SEASON IN REVIEW: Greencastle-Antrim baseball set precedent in 2013

GREENCASTLE — From overlooked long shot to District 3-AAA champion, the spring of 2013 will forever act as a reminder of all that's possible for the Greencastle-Antrim varsity baseball program.

The improbable playoff run produced countless memories likely to last a lifetime for those involved, setting a precedent fueled by self-belief.

Behind a sufficient, 11-7 mark in the regular season, the Blue Devils entered the District 3 tournament seeded 13th, widely presumed to be 'one-and-done' considering their first-round pairing against Lancaster Catholic.

Contrary to assumptions, G-A's signature moment transpired, rallying from an early deficit to stun the fourth-seeded Crusaders on their home field, foreshadowing what was to come.

As the old adage goes, the rest is history.

Victories over No. 5 Oley Valley and No. 8 West York ensued, assuring a berth in states while earning a spot in the district title game.

After establishing a 10-run lead, G-A's magical run came full circle, coasting to a 12-8 triumph against No. 3 Littlestown to convincingly claim the Class AAA crown.

It was a storybook two-week stretch comprised of an unimaginable script, culminating into a heartbreaking conclusion just one out away from continuing onward.

Despite Upper Moreland's 4-3, walk-off win in the opening round of the PIAA tournament bringing the Blue Devils' season to a devastating end, it certainly did not define the journey.

"It was just an unbelievable ride," G-A third-year head coach Eric Shaner said. "Seeing the guys get rewarded for truly believing in themselves and their teammates is what really made it special. We got to the point where we couldn't see ourselves losing. You always want to win, but that belief led to our success."

Acting as somewhat of a consolation, West York went on to defeat Upper Moreland in Friday's state championship game, reaffirming the caliber of competition G-A did, and nearly beat.

Aside from the remarkable playoff run, the Blue Devils' 15-8 final record was a vast improvement upon their 8-12 mark in 2012 — a season that concluded with nine losses in the final 10 games.

The overall turnaround spoke volumes to the leadership of G-A's senior class, with the six recent graduates certainly leaving a lasting impact.

"After the way things ended last year and with us periodically struggling early this year, the guys got to a point where they knew they had to have a voice on the team," Shaner said of his seniors. "Kids that weren't that vocal before really stepped up and the other guys responded. The leadership was tremendous and we really became a tight-knit group as the season went on."

Senior leaders

A three-year staple at shortstop, Hunter Szaflarski capped his sensational career by batting .451, second on the team to Justin Hovey's stellar average of .456.

Page 2 of 3 - Szaflarski, who will play Division II ball at Shippensburg University, found his comfort zone after Shaner moved him to sixth in the order, racking up 19 RBI and finishing with a team-high five triples.

A wall behind the plate, catcher Adam Moore served as the third Blue Devil to bat above .400, ending his impressive senior campaign with an average of .406, including 18 RBI and 20 runs scored.

Solidifying the bottom half of the order, the duo of Cam Chilcote and Holden Baker consistently made their presence known, as Chilcote batted .348 with 14 RBI followed by Baker's .333 average and 15 runs scored.

Gifted with rare speed, Danny Stepler excelled in the leadoff spot, batting .342 while stealing a team-high 17 bases. The senior's legs also paid dividends in the outfield, frequently chasing down shots to the gap from center.

Josh Young rounded out the Class of 2013, acting as an important member of G-A's rotation.

With such a valuable cast being lost to graduation, the Blue Devils will undoubtedly have some areas to address moving forward. While finding comparable talent to step in will not be an easy feat, the experience gained by this season's underclassmen should prove pivotal toward the future.

Pair of aces

It's no secret that dominant pitching can carry any team a long way. Throughout the year, and especially in the playoffs, it became equally obvious G-A has not one, but two top-tier hurlers capable of shouldering the load.

Tabbed as the proven ace of the staff, Ryan Ricci confirmed his status among the elite, routinely overpowering opponents while rising to the occasion with the season hanging in the balance.

Ricci's 5-1 record included district victories over Lancaster Catholic and West York, with the junior's six-plus innings of relief against the Crusaders acting as arguably the best outing of his career.

Working 47 2/3 innings, Ricci boasted an ERA of 3.02 with 38 strikeouts, one better than freshman protégé Myles Gayman.

Thrust into the varsity spotlight, Gayman immediately emerged as a polished product, showcasing poise well beyond his years with deliberate command of the strike zone.

He ended his phenomenal freshman campaign with a record of 7-2, highlighted by a complete-game, two-hitter in his first career postseason start in the district quarterfinals against Oley Valley.

In his 49 innings of work, Gayman maintained a 2.94 ERA with 37 strikeouts, including a signature three-pitch sequence for the final out of G-A's semifinal victory over eventual state champion West York.

"Even though they accomplished a lot this year, getting knocked out in the first round of states actually made them hungrier," Shaner said of his returning, one-two punch. "They want to take the next step and with having both of them back, basically as two aces, it's certainly possible. They push each other and work extremely hard at their craft, so the potential is pretty much endless."

Page 3 of 3 - Pieces in place

With Ricci and Gayman coming back as a lethal combination on the mound, Hovey's breakout junior year at the plate essentially set the offensive standard heading into 2014.

Along with his team-leading batting average of .456, Hovey's production also included 21 RBI, 16 runs scored, 11 stolen bases and a team-high 11 doubles, frequently feasting off opposing pitchers.

The return of Ashtin Byers, Jake Crist, Kurt Hansen and Thomas Bowers only adds to the optimism, with all four batting at least .300.

Byers' average of .351 was slightly better than Crist and Bowers, who both hit .333 for the year. Placed in the No. 3 hole, Crist led the team in both RBI (25) and runs scored (24) while Bowers provided a reliable stick when called upon to pinch hit.

Hansen ended the season batting .300 even, finishing second on the team with 13 stolen bases while accounting for 20 runs scored.

Needless to say, the foundation for next year's lineup is already in place.

"We're going to have a lot of talent coming back," Shaner explained. "These guys experienced what it's like to make a run at a state title, so hopefully that carries over. There's a couple kids in the freshman class that we really like and will potentially be asked to step into a varsity role. Either way, there's definitely plenty to be excited about."